Cavalry Horse Decorations

Cavalry Horse Decoration set

Date Acquired	2006
Location Discovered	Balkans
Material	Silvered Bronze/Copper Alloy
Dimensions	2.6cm up to 11.8cm
Roman Empire	1st to early 2nd Century AD
Description

A large selection of Roman Cavalry harness decorations. These items would have adorned the Roman Cavalry soldier's horse and saddle. Distinctive and unique to the 1st-3rd Century with a variety of known styles. Many of these items are complete and have sections of silvering still visible. Please view each example for their individual descriptions and photos. (1)(2)(3

Some similar museum examples from the Lieden Museum. (photo from www.romancoins.info )

Modern recreations showing where these items would have been fitted on the harness & saddle areas.

Click on Individual Pictures for higher resolution

Cavalry Horse Harness/ Saddle decoration. Some silvering still remains. Two raised circles, with palmette style pendants at the bottom. Items was bent in before its discovery (most likely during the Roman period when it was burried).

2nd Century AD 6.9cm x 6.9cm

Cavalry Horse Harness/ Saddle decoration. Some silvering and design pattern still remains. Two raised circles with small holes for mounting.

2nd Century AD 7.1cm x 2.3cm

Cavalry Horse Harness center decoration. Remnants of silver is visible and a circular design pattern still remains around the edge when viewed closely.

2nd Century AD 6.7cm x 4.3cm

Cavalry Horse Harness center decoration. Raised "jewel" near the bottom as well as a raised circular center distinguishes this item.

2nd Century AD 11.8cm x 6.7cm

Cavalry Horse Harness center decoration. With jagged edging and open work design.

2nd Century AD 6.1cm x 4.3cm

Cavalry Horse Harness decoration. Small decorative pendant, with open work design and traces of silvering at the terminal rounded end.

2nd Century AD 4.9cm x 2.6cm

Cavalry Horse Harness connection decoration. Large areas of silvering remain, however the rounded attachment in the center is missing. Clear remnants of the silvered design are still visible. The reverse has two rivets which would have attached it to the leather harness.

2nd Century AD 7.3cm x 1.7cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant. Two parts with silvering remaining and remnants of patterns. Circle is of the slightly raised design. Pendant has acorn design end pieces with openwork design.

2nd Century AD 8.2cm x 4.4cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant. Complete set as they would have been connected during the Roman period. Some silvering remains and remnants of patterns. Circle is of the flat design with a hole in the center where a silvered rivet would been attached.

2nd Century AD 6.8cm x 3.5cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant. Complete set as they would have been connected during the Roman period. Majority of the silvering remains on the circle portion and remnants of the floral patterns still exist. Circle is of the flatter design with the silvered rivet still attached. The two matching belt loops still remain. Part of the pendant was broken most likely during the Roman period.

2nd Century AD 7.6cm x 3.7cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant. Two parts with large amount of silvering remaining and remnants of the floral patterns. Circle is of the flatter design with both of the belt loops in place. Pendant has silvering with openwork design.

2nd Century AD 5.3cm x 3.4cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant. Complete set as they would have been connected during the Roman period. Corrosion section visible on circle portion with remnants of some circular design and silvering. Circle is of the flatter design with the rivet missing, now replaced by a small hole. Part of the pendant was broken most likely during the Roman period. The original iron hinge still remains on the reverse, as well as the pair of belt hoops.

2nd Century AD 7.1cm x 4.2cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant. Complete set as they would have been connected during the Roman period. Traces of silvering is visible on circle portion with the small hole for the missing rivet. Part of the pendant was broken most likely during the Roman period. The reverse has encrustations on it, believed to possibly be from wood or organic remnants. The pair of belt hoops still remain and the pendant has now been "encrusted" to the circle section.

2nd Century AD 6.9cm x 4.5cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant with large amount of silvering still remaining. Defined "bar" visible at the end with clear remnants of the intricate pattern that once adorned the piece.

2nd Century AD 4.5cm x 3.3cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant. In the shape of a heart with rounded knob at end. Open work design near top.

2nd Century AD 6.4cm x 4.4cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant, circular. The top part of a cavalry decoration, complete with a large amount of silvering. Circle is of the slightly raised design with a center hole for a rivet which is now missing. The reverse has both loop bars to hold the harness.

2nd Century AD 3.6cm x 3.6cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant with large amount of silvering still remaining. Majority of patterned design still remains. Pendant is more detailed and defined than other examples, and has raised ridges in the acorn area and open work design. Clearly a higher quality item. Suspension hook on reverse now gone.

2nd Century AD 4.7cm x 3.7cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant with areas of silvering still remaining. Pendant is more detailed and defined than other examples, and has raised ridges in the acorn area and open work design. Clearly a higher quality item. Suspension hook remains on the reverse.

2nd Century AD 5.0cm x 4.7cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant, circular. The top part of a cavalry decoration, complete with a some of the silvering visible. Some traces of the design are also visible. Circle is of flatter design with a center hole for a rivet which is now missing. The reverse has both loop bars to hold the harness.

2nd Century AD 3.8cm x 3.8cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant. In the shape of a tear drop with rounded knob at end. Open work design near top. Numerous carved circles make a continuous pattern on the obverse.

2nd Century AD 6.7cm x 4.5cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant. In the shape of a heart with rounded knob at end. Open work design near top.

2nd Century AD 6.9cm x 5.3cm

2nd Century AD 4.3cm x 4.3cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant, circular. The top part of a cavalry decoration. Some traces of the design are visible. Circle is of the slightly raised design with a center hole for a rivet which is now missing. The reverse has both loop bars to hold the harness.

2nd Century AD 3.4cm x 3.4cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant, circular. The top part of a cavalry decoration. Some traces of the design are visible as are areas of silvering. Circle is of ridged design with a center hole for a rivet which is now missing. Some areas of corrosion are visible, but stable. The reverse has both loop bars to hold the harness.

2nd Century AD 3.5cm x 3.5cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant, circular. The top part of a cavalry decoration. Circle is of the slightly raised design with a center hole for a rivet which is now missing. A green rough patina covers the piece and no traces of silvering are visible. The reverse has both loop bars to hold the harness.

2nd Century AD 3.6cm x 3.6cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant with areas of open work design. Encrustations still covers the item and no silvering is visible. Suspension hook remains on the reverse.

2nd Century AD 5.0cm x 3.1cm

Cavalry Horse Harness pendant with areas of open work design. Encrustations still covers the item yet some silvering is visible. Item may possible be professionally cleaned and conserved. Suspension hook remains on the reverse.

2nd Century AD 5.9cm x 4.4cm

(1) References to similar items: FEUGERE, Michel; Weapons of the Romans, page 138 2002.

(2) Reference to similar items: BISHOP, M.C & COULSTON, J.C.N; Roman Military Equipment "From the Punic wars to the Fall of Rome", page 120 2006.

(3) References to similar items: SIMKINS, Michael & EMBLETON, Ron; The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan, page 19 2000.

**Note on background. A Fresco from the ancient Roman City of Pompeii. The interior walls of a wealthy Roman's Estate 79AD. Picture taken July 2005.